Two British soldiers killed in Afghanistan

Two British soldiers have been killed in an explosion in Afghanistan six days
before they were due to return home to the UK, the Ministry of Defence said.

Two soldiers from the 1st Battalion Irish Guards were killed by an explosion in Afghanistan bringing the death toll to 362Photo: PA

9:05AM GMT 24 Mar 2011

The soldiers, from 1st Battalion Irish Guards, were killed yesterday when their vehicle was caught in a blast from an IED (improvised explosive device) in the Nahr-e Saraj district of Helmand province.

Next of kin have been informed.

The soldiers were killed returning from an operation where they had been searching compounds alongside troops from the Afghan National Army and C Company of the Danish Battle Group.

Spokesman for Task Force Helmand, Lieutenant Colonel Tim Purbrick, said: "It is with very great sadness that I have to inform you of the deaths of two soldiers from 1st Battalion Irish Guards.

"The soldiers had been conducting a partnered operation with the Afghan National Army and the Danish Battle Group during which they had successfully disrupted insurgent activity and searched a number of compounds in the Nahr-e Saraj district of central Helmand.

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"On completion of the operation their patrol had just left an Isaf base in order to return to their own camp - to commence their handover to the next unit before they were due to return home in six days - when the vehicle in which the two soldiers were travelling was struck by an improvised explosive device.

"Both men were recovered to an Isaf base, however, tragically, both had lost their lives. Our thoughts and prayers are with their families and friends."